• Marco La Grua and Giuliano Michelagnoli.
• Department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care, Pain Unit, Misericordia e Dolce Hospital, Prato, Italy. lagruam@yahoo.it
• Clin J Pain. 2010 Jun 1;26(5):433-4.

ObjectivesIn current medical literature, most of the reported complications of spinal cord stimulation concern technical problems, such as lead malfunction, migration, breakage, or internal pulse generator dysfunction, whereas reports about the side effects on internal organ function caused by spinal cord stimulation are rare.MethodsIn this clinical report, we describe uncommon side effects owing to spinal cord stimulation in a patient with chronic neuropathic pain. Our patient developed unexpected urinary retention during electrical epidural stimulation.Results And DiscussionThis case report highlights the incomplete knowledge about the mechanism of action of spinal cord stimulation and its influence on the interactions between the autonomic nervous system and voluntary control of urinary function. The complete recovery of bladder function after the interruption of stimulation suggests that electrical stimulation caused the adverse effects in this clinical case.

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